Hurricane Milton battered Florida with destructive winds, causing widespread transformer explosions and power outages. In Pinellas County, more than 380,000 customers were without electricity by 10:45 p.m., according to Duke Energy, as numerous residents reported transformers blowing out under the storm's force.

With wind gusts surpassing 100 mph, the storm affected over 1.25 million people in the Tampa Bay Area alone. In St. Petersburg, transformers exploded, casting the sky in eerie blue and orange hues. Meanwhile, gusts in Lakeland reached 76 mph, leading to further power grid failures.

As Milton continued to cross the Florida Peninsula, additional transformer failures were reported in Bradenton and Punta Gorda, leaving more areas in the dark. Video footage captured by local authorities showcased the dramatic scenes as transformers failed under extreme conditions.

Source: foxweather.com/uk.news.yahoo.com